Pages

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

CrossFit

I have been interested in
trying a CrossFit class for quite
some time. I don’t do anything very quickly.Running is long and slow, weight training is slow and
deliberate. I wanted to try the high intensity of CF.

A few of my ultrarunning
friends absolutely love CF. They live on the West Coast and CF has been around
for ages out there. Many use CF to compliment their running a few times a week.
The past few years CF has made its way to MN and boxes are popping up here and
there.The closest one to Big Lake
that I could find a few months ago was in Maple Grove. Because I have been
driving an hour to go to my favorite CorePower Yoga class, I really didn’t want
to drive that far to CF.

A few weeks ago I again did
a search for CF in the area and low and behold I got a hit!A master Taekwondo instructor in the area who has his CF certification was holding classes!Woohoo! He just began classes last
month. Only 20 minutes away!

Yesterday I attended my
first CF class. Well, actually, it wasn’t even a class. It was a required introduction
to a beginning class.

I was apprehensive. All
that I know about CF it that it is bad ass, intense, pull ups and throwing
heavy tires around.I had looked
at YouTube videos and different blogs and such. Many in my paleo community
practice CF.

Ryan gave me an in-depth
introduction to CF. He explained that CF is not a specialized fitness program
but an attempt to optimize physical competence in 10 areas: cardiovascular and
respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination,
agility, balance and accuracy.Oh,
is that all?

He explained some CF
terminology, the WOD (workout of the day), the scaling back of w/o’s to ability
level, etc.

After the introduction and 101 questions that I had it was time for my workout.

My body isn’t used to doing
anything fast, this is why I wanted to begin CF. The intensity!I can run long and slow, I can lift
long and slow, but fast..I haven’t been doing fast! I am ready to give my body
a wake up call.

I began to row and that was
fine, it took me about 3 minutes to finish 500 meters, I unhooked the safety
straps from my feet and went to the squat. I was to squat deep, touching my but
to the ball each time. No problem but my heart rate was increasing and sweat
was beginning to roll. Good stuff.Onto the sit ups. Oh lord. I normally do ‘crunches’ .. why? I’m not
really sure. I quit doing regular sit ups quite some time ago when I began this
long session of crunches and have been doing them since. I had to chuckle. I
told Ryan “my son is going to be so disappointed that I can’t do normal sit
ups!” He told me to extend my arms and use them as leverage. Silly!I felt like a fool.Oh well, suck it up and move on. I
completed the 40 and went to push ups.

20 were no problem and then
they were s l o w and my form was becoming very improper. These were ‘chest to
deck’ pushups. Touching my chest to the floor for each pushup. I haven’t done
that before. Pretty soon I moved to KNEE pushups.Yes, truly. Knee pushups!Good grief.After 40 I wobbly walked to the pull up bar.Oh dear. During our intro he asked how many pull ups I could
do. I told him about 10 at that point. I didn’t bother telling him I could do
many more before this past year and of my injury.I did 5 during our intro. They must not have been too
stellar because he said I could jump off a box and jump up to the bar to do the
pull-ups during the workout.

I jumped up to the bar and
was able to get 8 in but after that my arms and back were just kind of
done.I jumped up and muscled out
as many as I could. I was panting and spit was coming out of my mouth.
Gross!The last few my form was
gone but I was just counting to 20.At 20 I was beat. I was
panting like a dog. My legs were tired, my arms were tired, my back was tired. I
was soaked. Unreal.

I shuffled to my water and
towel and realized I was supposed to be completing this for time.The clock said 10:15.Sheesh, most intense 10 minute work
I’ve ever had.

I can only improve, right?

I loved it!

After I finished up we
talked about the class schedule, payment, etc. I decided I’d begin with a few
free classes at the beginning level. He feels that I will be able to walk into
beginners and be OK. I don’t know about that but I will try it.I will be goingto class today at 530, after Topaz and
I get our Run On.

Instead of leaving with my
tail tucked between my legs and my ears down I left with a smile upon my face.
I can’t wait to go back today!

5 comments:

Julie, I've been doing CrossFit for about 18 months now and I love it. But, at the same time, I haven't run an ultra since I started CrossFit. I don't know if I'm done with ultras or not, but right now, CrossFit fits in well with the amount of free time I have. In the winter, I do CF about 3x per week and I teach alpine skiing on the weekends. In the summer, I do CF 3-4 times per week and then run or bike the other days of the week.

I do not belong to a CrossFit gym but I do incorporate their circuit style workouts into my program 2-3 times a week. It's time efficient, you think it's simple and then you get up the next morning. Wow! that worked! Since changing from workouts geared toward bodybuilding to crossfit/circuits I feel more limber and have less muscle tighness and cramping during my runs. Hope it works for you!

Would love to follow your journey. I can't afford it neither in time (driving to - doing an hour - driving back) nor in money, but I am curious. If I say I incorporate the idea, I'd be half-lying, because unless you're yelled at, you never push hard enough - proven even by my weight training coaches, running coaches, and simply track intervals with others.

Where is this cross fit instructor located? My husband and I have been wanting to do this and we live in Northern MN East Bethel area. I wanted to add it to my running. I have done a few WOD's with my husband from the website and they kick my booty! It is fun in a weird way lol.

Damon, I am beginning with 2x a week; Tuesday and Thursday. When summer comes and I am off work for 10 weeks I'll increase to 3x a week. I am really enjoying it, however, I've only had 4 WODs!

Willie, I enjoy this more than the BB workouts. It just makes more sense to me to complete all body strengthening, fast cardio, etc. I'm loving it!

Olga, I hear you on the driving. I was pretty bummed out when I looked for CF a few months ago and all of the boxes were at least 50 miles away. Too far. Yesterday I drove 4 hours combined trip to run 4 hours. That's my run rule. I have to run AT LEAST as long as the drive!

Facebook Badge

Me!

Hammer Nutrition Referral Credit!

About Me

12 years ago in the haze of a hangover I read Oprah's Make The Connection. It changed my life. I lost the fat, I put down the booze, began eating in a healthy manner, began to walk, then run. Run On! I first began running marathons. Liked it so much I found some crazy ultra runners in MN who showed me the trail and ultramarathons. 39 marathons and 40+ ultra marathons later ( 15 100 mile ultramarathons in the past 5 years) I am sober, lean and happy. I am now inspiring others to run, as Oprah inspired me. Coaching beginning runners is a gift I like to give every day. It's not just about running..it's about all that comes with it: goal setting, empowerment, a belief in oneself, being true to oneself. 2007 brought 4 100 mile finishes, 2008 brought 4 100 mile finishes, a BQ and PR at TCM, a PR at the 100 mile trail distace at Javelina Jundred: 23:13. 2009 brought another PR at the 100 mile distance! Amazing. Lean Horse 100, a dream come true. What holds for 2010? WHO KNOWS?? NOT I! Wow. It's 2013 NOW!